Safety device for gas-radiator systems



wm E. E. LEDBETTIER SAFETY 'DEVICE FOR 'GAS RADIATOR SYSTEMS Filed April 11, 1927 EnttEE. E.- EEEETTEE, oE nETEorT, MICHIGAN, assiunoia To THE EvEE nor HEATER COMPANY, 01F DETROIT, MIIUHIGAN,

A CORPORATION 015' MICHIGAN.

SAFETY JDEVTCE FOR GhS-RADIATOR ElYSTEMS.

Application filed April 11, 192?. Serial No. 182,846.

The invention relates to an improvement in in. latent No. 1,594,074: and more particularly. is directed to certain safety devices adapted to be used therewith to prevent fire hazard in case of the abnormal operation of the system.

The typeof gas radiator unit to which my invention is advantageously applied consists oi a combustion chamber having atlue conduit for radiating the heat from the combustion chamber and an outer casing for circulating the air from the room into contact with thetlue conduit. The unit is provided with agas burner, a main air inlet adjacent the burner, an exhaust conduit and preferably an auxiliary air inlet adjacent the eX- haust conduit for the purpose oyfintroducing additional air into the exhaust products. The unit is Operated under a forced draft, preferably by withdrawing the products of combustion by a suction. ian.

With such a construction there is always the possibility that the suction on the eX- haust conduit may stop while the burner is operating through failure of the fan or for some other reason and if-this occurs, the circulation'through the combustion chamber and lines may be reversed so that the exhaust products pass outwardly into the room through the air inlet of the device. This would be a dangerous condition and might easily result in starting a fire in the room.

The primary object of theinvention is to provide a safety device for an internal combustion radiator unit of the type aforesaid, which will automatically shut oft communicationbetween the unitand the room when the suction on the system falls below a predetermined value. y

One embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherem-p i a i T Figure 1 represents a portion of the heat shown in side elevation;

Figure 2. is an enlarged longitudinal secggts radiator systems of the type described the sake of appearance.

, let.

111g. system with one of the. radiator units date herewith. indicates the radiator unit generally, 11 theiuel, supply line, l2the exhaust conduit and 13 the fan or blower for pleating a suction in the exhaust conduit. The unit 10 comprises an outer casing 14: su tably supported by legs l5'and adapted to restupon the floor. The casing is open at both the lower and upper ends to permit the an in the room to circulate within the same and contact with the combustion chambernnit 16 arranged within the casing. The casing is preferably closed at the top and has an opening 17 in one of the side walls thereof through which the heated air escapes laterally into the room. Preferably the opening 17 is provided with a grid 17" for The combustion chamber 16 is generally ofrectangular shape forming a closed compartment in which are arranged a series of horizontal battles 18 forming a series of horizontal flue passage ways 19, 19, 19", 20, 21, etc. The battles are cut away at alternate ends forming the openings 22, 23, 24, etc. providing communication between adjacent horizontal passageways and forming in effect a single continuous passageway for the combustion gases. The .inlet to the combustion chamber is formed by an aperture in the upper passageway 15), while the outlet is -formed by the aperture 26 in the lower wall of the lower most passageway 27. The battles 18 are spaced closer together at the bottom 01 the combustion chamber than at the top, thereby gradually reducing the cross sectional area of the flue as the ases progress toward the out- The adv Jtage of this construction is to obtain a greater length oi travel in a combustion chamber of given dimensions. or protecting the. outer casing 14L from overheating adjacent the upper passageways, baliles 28 are arranged between the outer walls of the combustion chamber.

29 is a vertical conduit arranged between one end of the combustion chamber 16 and the end wall of the casing 14. This conduit. has laterally extending branches 30 and 31 leading respectively to the inlet opening 25 and the opening 26 in the lowermost passageway 27. The upper and lower ends of the conduit 29 are both open to the air within the casing 1land each is provided with a spring closed valve. The upper valve 32 is urged toward a seat 33 by the spring 34, while'the lower ill valve 35 is urged in the opposite direction against theseat- 36 by a spring 37. The valves are normally held in open position by a connecting bar or wire 38 which has associated therewith a fusible link 39 arranged in align-V ment with the laterallpassageway 30.

The fuel which, in the present instance, is gas,'is applied through the pipe 40 extending upwardly within the casing 14 and laterally within the lateral passageway 30. This pipe is provided with a shut-off valve 41, which as shown is arranged in axial alignment with the connecting bar 38 and is adapted to seat upon the valve seat 42'. The valve has the upper and lower rods43 and 44 projecting through stuffing boxes 45 in the valve housing 46, these rods being respectively connected to the fusiblelink 39 and the connecting bar 38.

A spring 47 urges the valve 41 toward its seat, but the valve is normally held open by the fusiblelink. 48 is a burner projecting from the valve housing toward the combustion chamber passage 19, the burner being of any suitable construction, but preferably being of the modified Bunsen burner type adapted to have a wide range of adjustment from a tiny pilot light to a flame of maximum intensity. The burner has the calibrated air inlet orifices 49 for obtaining the proper mixture. The air for supportmg the'combustion is introduced by the valve 32 through the passageway 30 into the combustion chamber, the

amount of air being determined either by the size of the. passageway 30 or the adjustment of the valve 32. The amount of air introduced is sufficient to support complete coinbustion of the gas and provide a predetermined excess for preventing condensation within the unit in accordance with the principles set forth in the Patent 1,594,074 above mentioned; As set forth in said patent, it is preferable to provide an auxiliary air inlet adjacent the exhaust conduit, this inlet being the conduit 31 which is regulable by means of a suitable damper 50.

In the operation of the heating system as above described a predetermined suction is maintained upon the, combustion chamber by the fan 13, thus causing a forced circulation downwardly through the passageways of the combustion chamber. In normal operation the gas supply from the burner 48 is completely burned by the air from the conduit 30 and the products of combustion through the passageways 19, 20, 21, etc. and

the temperature of the fusible link is sufficiently below the fusing point thereof so that the valves 82, 35 and 41 are all maintained open. If the suction on the unit falls below apredetermined value or ceases entirely (such as for example, when the fan ceases to operate, or is materially slowed down because of a breakdown of the means for operating the same, or for. any other reason), the flame from the burner instead of passing down-' are drawn wardly through the combustion chamber is permitted to pass upwardly throu h the valve 82, the air supporting the. com ustion being obtained bya natural draft through the conduit 29. This will immediately result in the fusing of the link 39 and the valves 32 and 35 will thus be automatically closed, thereby completely sealing the unit to the room. Also the valve 41 is automatically closed, thus closing the fuel supply.

From the above description itwill be a parent that I have provided an automaticaliy operated safety device which will effectively prevent the escape of the products of com bustion into the room under abnormal conditions of operation and will eliminate any fire hazard with a heating system of the type described. It is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms and the invention is not to be construed as being lim ited to the details of construction disclosed except in the light of the claims appended hereto.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. In an internal combustion radiator heating system, the combination with a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet and an air inlet, of means for forcibly withdrmving the products of combustion through the combustion chamber, and means operable upon a predetermined lessening of the circulation through said combustion chamber for automatically closing said air inlet,

2. In an internal combustion radiator heating system, the combination with a combustion chamber having a. fuel inlet and an air inlet, of means for forcibly withdrawing the products of combustion through the combustion chamber, and means operable by an abnormal rise in temperature adjacent the air inlet for automatically closing said air inlet.

3. In an internal combustion radiator heating system, the combination with a combustion chamber having a fuel inlet, an air inlet, and means for forcibly withdrawing the products of combustion through the combustion chamber, of a normally open valve controlling the admission of air through said air inlet, and means operable upon a predetermined lessening of the circulation through said combustion chamber for automatically closing said valve.

4. In an internal combustion radiator heating system, the combination with a combustion chamber, a. gas burner, means for admitting air to said combustion chamber, and means for producing a suction on said combustion chamber to forcibly circulate the products of combustion therethrough, of a safety device arranged in operative relation to said combustion chamber comprising a normally open gas valve controlling said burner, a normally open air valve controlling said air introducing means, and means ly therethrough,

operable upon the lowering of the suction of said combustion unit for automatically closing said gas and air valves.

5. ln an internal combustion radiator heating system, the combination with a combustion chamber, means for supplying fuel thereto, means for supplying air thereto, means for creating a suction on said combustion chamber for forcibly withdrawing the products of combustion therefrom and means for introducing auxiliary air into said suction means, of a normally open valve controlling said fuel, a normally open valve controlling the air to said combustion chamber, and a normally open valve controlling the auxiliary air, and means operable upon a predetermined lowering of the suctionfor closing all of said valves.

6. In an internal combustion radiator heating system, the combination with a combustion chamber, means for introducing fuel and air into the upper portion of said combustion chamber, mean-s for creating a suction on said combustion chamber to withdraw the products of combustion downward I a normally open valve adapted when closed to seal said combustion chamber to the outside air, and means operable upon a predetermined lowering of the suction on said combustion chamber for automatically closing said valve.

7. In an internal combustion radiator heating system, the combination with a combustion chamber having a flue passageway therethrough, a gas burner at one end of said passageway, an air inlet adjacent the gas burner, an exhaust outlet at the other end of said passageway, means for withdrawing the products ofcombustion from said exhaust outlet, an auxiliary air inlet adjacent said outlet, spring closed valves controlling said air inlets, means normally connecting said valves to maintain the same in open position, and a fusible link included in said connecting means and arranged adjacent said gas burner.

8. In an internal combustion radiator heating system, the combination with a combustion chamber having an elongated fuel passageway, said combustion chamber hav ing an air inlet opening in the upper portion thereof, an auxiliary air inlet opening in the lower portion thereof, an exhaust outlet in the lower portion thereof and means for withdrawing the products of combustion from said exhaust outlet, of a conduit connecting said air inlet and auxiliary air inlet, a pair of spring closed valves in said connecting conduit, means including a fusible link connecting said valves to maintain the same open, a gas burner, and a gas valve main tained open by said connecting means.

9. In an internal combustion radiator heating system, the combination with a combustion chamber, a gas burner, means for admitting air to said combustion chamber, and means for producing a suction on said combustion chamber to forcibly circulate the products of combustion therethrough, of a safety device arranged in operative relation to said combustion chamber comprising a normally open gas valve controlling said burner, a normally open air valve controlling said air introducing means, and a fusible link adjacent said gas burner for retaining said valves in their normally open position, and adapted to be acted upon by the flame issuing from said burner upon the predetermined lowering of the suction of said combustion unit.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ELMER E. LEDBETTER.

tit) 

